Electrolytic cell.



A. E. GIBBS.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

APPLlcAloN FILED MAR.24.19|3.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Qms

MMA/V A. E. GIBBS.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL. APPLlcATloN H-LED MAR. 24. 1913.

Patented 21, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

` N STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR E. GIBBS, OF WYANDOTTE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO PENNSYLVANIA SALT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

Application led March 24, 1913. Serial No. 756,299.

To all LU/0m t1/Lay concer/t: Be it known that I, ARTHUR E: Grs, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and

resident of IVyandotte, 'ayne county, Michi- Ibodying the features of my invention; Fig.

is a partial section on the line II-II of Fig. 2, but on a larger scale; and Figs. l, 5, G and 7 are detail sectional views hereinafter more fully described.

My invention. relates to the class of electrolytic cells; and more particularly to cells of the type shown in my Patent No. 874,061 of December 17th, 1907. In cells of this type, which are arranged for wet electrolysis, such as the electrolysis of alkaline chlorids, there is employed a metallic cathode, together with a diaphragm of permeable material, the cathode having projections embedded or partially embedded in said diaphragm.

One object of my present invention is to provide an improved construction of the cathode element of the cell, whereby the latter may be composed of castings of a strong and durable character.

A further object of my inve tion is to provide the cell with passages a its upper portion which will permit the flow of the electrolyte from the interior of the cell into contact with a surface of the cathode, upon which caustic soda. is formed in the action of the cell. This How is independent and additional to that permeating the diaphragm, and provides for washing the surface of the cathode over which it flows to remove the products of electrolysis. The permeable diaphragm of these cells in the course of time tends to become choked or clogged, thereby restricting the permeation therethrough, and interfering with the proper action of the cell. In such cases this impermeability can be in part overcome by the provision of the passages above referred to and which provide for flow of 'the electrolyte independently of and additionalto that through the interstices of the diaphragm.

Referring first to that form of my invention which is shown in Figs. 1, 1 and the numeral 2 designates a bottom member of resistant material; 3 designates the cathode member, and 1 the permeable diaphragm within the cathode member. In these ligures I have shown a cathode member and diaphragm, which are in general similar' to that shown in Figs. 1 and z of my said patent, the cathode member being provided with a plurality of holes or perforations forn'ied by punching. These punched or inset portions of the cathode which surround the holes are embedded in the material of the diaphragm. The cathode member and diaphragm are held at the bottom by an annular clampingL band 5 placed around the bottom member 2; and at the upper end by a similar clamping member 6 surrounding va depending flange 7 of a top ring 8, which seats upon the upper end of the cathode and diaphragm and upon the clamping band 6.

'ihe anode preferably consists of a series of carbon rods 9 arranged in annular form and projecting through the dome`10, which ma)v rest upon an annular recess in the top ring S. The positive wire of the connections leads to this anode, while the negative wire leads to the cathode. The dome is shown as provided with a gas outlet 11, and also with a ring or suspending device 12, which may be engaged by a crane or hoisting devire to lift out the anode.

Through the upper portion of the dia phragm I form a series of holes or passages 13, these being located at about the highest level of the electrolyte.at which the cell can be operated.

1l designates an inlet pipe for feeding the solution into a vertically adjustable feeding cup 15.

1li is a pipe for conveying the solution from the cup 15 into the anode chamber.

17 designates a4 suitable pan or vessel within which the lower portion of the cell is placed and which serves to catch the cathode products. This pan is provided with an outlet pipe 18.

The feeding cup 15 is provided with an overflow pipe 19, which serves to maintain a substantially constant level in thecup and also in the cell.

ln the operation of the cell, the solution to be treated is fed into the ,cup 15 at a 'faster rate than it is passed through the cell. The overllow feeds outJ through the pipe 19, and the solution feeds into the anode compartment or' the cell through the pipe i6. By adjusting the height of the cup 15 l can adjust the feed so as to give the best efiiciency at dii'erent stages of the life of the cell. is the solution passes outwardly through the permeable diaphragm, in the treatment of alkaline chloride, the caustic forms upon the projections or points of the cathode, the bulk of electrolysis taking place at these points or projections. As the caustic is formed, the tlow of electrolyte carries it outwardly through the holes in the cathode and out of the region of electrolytic action. As above stated, however, in use the diaphragm tends to become clogged or choked, so that the properv quantity of the electrolyte does not permeate through the same. In such cases the caustic is not carried away rapidly as it isformed and becomes decomposed, thus lowering the etliciency of the cell. My present invention overcomes this defect, in that theprovision of the perforations 13 in the upper portion of the diaphragm forms a means for conducting electrolyte to the outer surface of the cathode over which it flows, thus constantly washing away any deposit of the caustic.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 2, 3, 6 and 7, the cathode is composed of the series of segments 20 litted together to form a complete cylinder and held in" place by the top and bottom clamping rings 21 and 22. The segments 20 may be in the form of castings, thus giving a strong and durable construction. The inner faces of the segments are vertically corrugated as indicated at 23, thus forming a multiplicity of vertical channels between the cathode and the diaphragm, these channels being partially filled by the embedding of the corrugations in the diaphragm. Vertical channels are left, however, through which a flow of the products of electrolysis can take place downwardly into the pan or receptacle 17a. ln this form of my invention, the perforations 13a in the upper portion of the diaphragm communicate with Vertical channels or passages on the inner surface of the cath-y ode so as to maintain a sutiicient flow of the electrolyte therethrough to remove the caustic as it is formed.

' It will be obvious that various changes can be made in the details of construction and arrangement of the various parts .within the scope ot the appended claims. Thus, instead of forming perforations through the diaphragm to lead the electrolyte to a surtace of the cathode, I may provide any other .suitable passage or passages for that purpose.

What I claim is 1. An electrolytic cell comprising a cathode member and a permeable diaphragm, and the cell having means for permitting the flow of electrolyte from the anode compartment of the cell to a surface of the Cathode, independent of the permeation throlgh the diaphragm, to remove the products of electrolysis from such Surface; substantially as described.

'2. An electrolytic cell comprising a cathode member and a permeable diaphragm, and the cell having a passage for permitting the How of the electrolyte from the anode compartment of the cell to a surface of the cathode, independent of the permeation through the diaphragm, to remove the products of electrolysis from such surface; substantially as described.

3Q An electrolytic cell comprising a cylin drical cathode member and a cylindrical permeable diaphragm within the (cathode member and in contact thereWith,the cathode member having its inner surface formed with a plurality of projections forming passages for the flow of the products of electrolysis,land the cell having means for causing a flow of the electrolyte, additional tor the permeation through the diaphragm, to a surface of the cathode to remove the products of electrolysis therethrough; substantially as described.

ll. An electrolytic cell comprising a cylindrical cathode member and a cylindrical permeable diaphragm Within the cathode member End in contact therewith, the cathode mem er having its inner surface formed with a plurality of projections forming passages for the flow of the products of electrolysis, and the cell having means for causing a flow of the electrolyte, additional to the permeation through the diaphragm, to the first named passages to remove the products of electrolysistherefrom; substantially as described.

5, An electrolytic cell comprising a cylindrical cathode member and a cylindrical permeable diaphragm within the cathode member and in contact therewith, the cathode member having its inner surface formed with a plurality of vertical ribs or corrugations forming passages for the flow of the productslof electrolysis, and the cell having means for causing a flow ofthe electrolyte, additional to the permeation through the diaphragm, to a surface of the cathode to remove the products-of electrolysis therefrom; substantially as described.

6. An electrolytic cell having a cylindrical cathode member composed of a plurality of separate segments, and clampinjl partially iilling for securing said segments; substantially as described.

T. An electrolytic cell having a cylindrical cathode member formed of a plurality of separate cast segments, and clamping means lfor securing the segments in cylinder posi tion; substantially as described.

8. An electrolytic cell having a cylindrical cathode member comprising a plurality of separate segments, said segments having their inner faces vertically grooved or corrugated; substantially as described.

9. An electrolytic cell having a cylindrical cathode member, said cathode member being formed of a plurality of separate segments having their inner surfaces vertically corrugated or grooved, and a permeable diaphragm resting against the corrugation; substantially as described.

10. An electrolytic cell having a cylindrical cathode member, said cathode member being formed of a plurality of separate segments having their inner surfaces vertically corrugated or grooved, and a permeable diaphragm resting against the corrugations and the spaces between the same; substantially as described.

11. In an electrolytic cell, the combination with a vertically-arranged diaphragm, of a cathode adjacent said diaphragm provided with a fiow channel therebetween, means for constantly feeding the electrolyte upon the anodt` side ol` said diaphragm and means permitting the surplus electrolyte to overflow said diaphragm, and to pass between the same and the cathode.

12. An electrolytic cell, comprising a diaphragm forming anode and cathode compartments, a cathode adjacent to said diaphragm having vertically-extending channels therein, and means permitting the overflow of electrolyte from the anode compartment into communication with said vertically-extending channels.

13. In an electrolytic cell, the combination of a cathode formed of a plurality of cylindrical segments, and a bottom plate clamped in position by said segments.

14. An electrolytic cell, comprising an anode and a cathode, a porous diaphragm therebetween, means for maintaining a constant freedom of communication between the anode compartment` and the space between the porous diaphragm and the cathode, and means for constantly supplying the electrolyte to the anode compartment and discharging the cathode liquor from between the cathode and the porous diaphragm.

15. An electrolytic cell, comprising an anode, a cathode, a porous diaphragm therebetween providing a flow channel across the electrolytic field between said diaphragm and the cathode, and means for bypassing the electrolyte across said diaphragm and flowing the same through the passage intermediate the diaphragm and cathode.

In testimony whereol, I have hereunto set my hand.

ARTHUR E. GIBBS.

Witnesses Guo. H. PARMELEE, H. M. ConwIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

